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On Dec. 12, �������� (��������) students turned graduates as they walked the stage at fall commencement, celebrating their achievements and stepping into the next chapter of their lives. Graduates joined a group of more than 65,000 �������� alumni. More than 300 graduates celebrated their accomplishments during the commencement ceremony. Graduates were joined by family, friends, faculty and staff who have all helped support them on their journey.

�Fulfilling this commitment to our community and to each of you could not be achieved without the high caliber faculty who dedicate their career to sharing their acquired knowledge, professional expertise and mentorship to students,� said �������� President Dr. Lori Suddick. �I am confident that each graduate present today leaves �������� with a special memory of a faculty member who made a significant difference in their ability to persist to complete their degree.�

The graduating class was addressed by �������� alumna Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II, an internationally recognized tech and arts enthusiast, public speaker and community leader. In 2023, at age 17, she successfully defended her dissertation to earn a doctoral degree in integrated behavioral health from Arizona State University.

�Every one of you has a unique story, a unique path that has led you here today,� Tillman II said. �Some of you may have faced challenges. Some of you may have had challenges that felt insurmountable at times that you have persevered and made it here today, you have shown resilience, and that is something you should never forget and always be proud of.�